Roller-clutch.



. clutch, and

merma. WALK, or OAKLAND, cALrFoaNIA.

y -aoLLEa-cLurcn. 1,296,345, Specification of Letters Patent. Patnted Mar, 4,1919, Application led August 7, 1918. Serial No; 248,679.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAsPnR J. WALK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cakland, in the county of Alameda andy State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in'Roller-Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a roller clutch.

One of the obj ects of the present inventlon' in the clutch in absolute a inement with the A inner and outer clutching faces of' the to positively prevent an lar movement of the same within 'the clutc Another object of the invention is to provide means for maintaining all theI rollers within the clutch in clutching position to prevent lost movement or back lash when the clutch is being operated.

Further'ob]ects will hereinafter appear. The inventionconsists of theparts and the construction and combination of parts -as hereinafter .more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings in which- Fi re 1 is a side elevation of the clutch showing the cover plate removed.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical -cross section on line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a ers e tive view of one of the roller supporting rackets.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates a shaft upon -whioh is secured in any suitable manner, or as here shown by means of a key 2, an inner clutch collar 3. Journaled in the clutch collar as shown are a lurality of rollers 4, in this instance six. Lach roller shown is provided with rojecting pins 5, one at each end of the ro ler. The

rollers 4 shown will hereinafter be termed the cam rollers. Pivotally mounted on the projecting pins 5 carried by each cam roller 4 1s a lli-shaped bracket frame 6, and carried in each racket frame is a clutch roller 7. The clutch roller 7 shown is also provided with projecting pins, one at each end as at 8, and these pins proiect throuh slots 9 formed in the upper ends 'of the U-racket for pur oses herelnafter to be described. Each U- racket 6 is odset at the upper end as at 10 to permit a free tially as follows:

permit the shaft A turning movement of the rollers 7, and also to pernit the formation of a connecting armll, this arm having two functions: first, that of connecting the arms 6, and secondly, that of formn a support for a' spring 12. While any suita le form of spring may be provlded I employ `a\ leaf spring, which is bent over to exert its pressurev against the clutch collar 3.

J ournaled on the shaft as at 13 and freely turnable thereon is a disk 14 by which is carried an outer clutch ring 15. This' outer clutch is suiciently large in diameter -to form a space 16 between the clutch collar and the ring to provide ample space for the clutch rollers 7, the U-brackets 6 and the springs 12. The outer clutch member is, in this instance, shown as connected as at with a reciprocating link 18. It is also shown as provided with a grease permit theinterior of the clutchl to be filled with grease or other lubricants, and furthermore to secure rollers 4 and 7, together with the U-brackets, against endwise movement.

The operation of the clutch is substan-4 An oscillating movement transmitted in the direction of arrow a will and the clutch collar` 3 to remain stationary, that is, movement of the outer clutch ring 15 will cause the rollers 7 to turn freely in the same direction and transmit a rotary movement to the cam rollers 4 in the opposite direction, due to the fact that the rollers 7 are held snugly against the cam rollers 4 and the inner face of the ring 15 b means of the springs 12. Movement of tlie clutch section 15 in the opposite direction will, however, immediately cause each roller 7 to reverse, and to immediately form a lock between the cam rollers 4 and the inner face of the clutch 15. This is due to the fact that the rollers 6 are normally maintained a slight distance behind the highest point of the rollers 4, thereby permitting the same to serve, as cams which force the rollers 7 outwardly into engagement with the clutch member 15. Movement is thus transmitted to turn the collar 3 and the shaft A only in the direction of arrow 5. It can furthermore be seen that perfeet freedom of movement is permitted the clutch 15 when it is turned in the opposite direction.

While the clutch section 15 is here shown as connected with a link 18, I wish it' understood that rotary or oscillating movement cover 19 to this being with the inner face of the clutch 15. Slottmg of the U-brackets 6 as shown at 9 permits considerable swinging movement of the U-brackets without any danger of carry? ing the roller 7 out of engagement with the inner face of the clutch 15.

.Another important feature. of the invention is the provisio'n of the rollers 4 as these not only serve the function of cams, but they also provide la large and constantl changing wearing surface for the rollers 7 to engage. By constantly changing wearing surface I mean that the rollers 4 are partly revolved each time the clutch 15 is turned in the direction of arrow a. It can therefore be readily seen that the rollers 7 will seldom, if ever, bite into the face of the rollers 4 in ex-a'ctl the same place as the rotation of the rolers 4 depends,` entirely upon the amount of rotation imparted to the clutch 15.

Another important feature of the .invention is a construction which permits every part employed to be cheaply and readily machined. It furthermore permits the provision of perfectly circular ground faces,

and itis, therefore, possible to employ high grade tool steel or similar material Awhich can be case hardened, so, thatthe wearing qualities of the same'can be depended u on.

ile case hardened steel has here een specified, I wish it understood that' the material and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer ma dictate.

Havlng thus describedY my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A roller clutch comprising an inner and an outer clutch member, each turnable in-' de endent of the other, a plurality of cam vro ers carried by the inner clutch, a roller interposed between each cam rqller andthe outer clutch, and .means for maintaining each roller in vpositive alinement with the outer clutch face and the inner cam rollers.

2. A roller clutch comprising an inner and an outer clutch member, each turnable independent of the other, a plurality of cam rollers carried by the inner clutcli, a`

each cam roller for mamtalnmg roller interposed between` and the outer clutch, means each roller in positive alinement with the outer clutch face and the' inner cam rollers,

and means for maintalnmg each roller in in any suitable y'means comprising a pluralit roller.

cam roller, and clutch ro v ersvjournaled in the rollers journaled in the inner clutch, a roller` interposed between each cam roller and the outer clutch, means -for vmaintaining each roller in positive alinement with the outer clutch face and the' inner-cam rollers, said of bracket frames, a pivotal connection etween each bracket frame and the inner clutch member, and journals formed at eachl end of each bracket member for the reception of tlie rollers.

4. A roller clutch comprising an inner and an outer clutch member, each turnable independent of the other, a plurality of cam members carried by the inner clutch, a roller interposed between each cam member and the outer clutch, means for maintaining each roller in positive alinement with the outery clutch face and the' inner cam members, said means comprising a plurality ,of bracket frames, a pivotal connection/between each bracket frame and the inne clutch member, journals formed at each endl of each bracket member for the reception of the rollers, and a spring engageable with each bracket member to maintain each roller in engagement with the outer clutch and the respective cam members.

5. A roller clutch comprising an inner and an outer clutch member interspaced with relation to each other, a plurality of rollers journaled in the. inner clutch member, a

roller interposed between each of said first named rollers and the outer clutch, and means for maintaining eachA interposed` roller in absolute alinement with each first named 6. A roller clutch comprising an inner and an outer annular clutch member, said clutch members being interspaced with relation to each other, a plurality of cam rollers journaled in the inner clutch member, a bracket member pivotaly mounted on each er turnably mounted in each-bracket member, and inter osed between each cam roller andthe outer c utch.

7. A roller clutch comprising an in ner and an'I outer annular clutch member said clutch members being interspaced with relation to each other, a plurality of cam rllinner clutch member, a bracket member pivotally mounted on each camjroller, in each bracket member, and interposed between each cam roller and the outer clutch, and means engageable with each bracket vmember to malntain each clutch roller in a clutch roller turnably mounted Ill Leeeeelsl and an outer annular clutch member, said clutch members being interspaced with relajtion to each other, a plurality of cam rollers 'ournaled in the inner clutch member, a

racket member pivotally mounted on each cam roller, a clutch roller turnabl-y'mounted in eachbracket member, and interposed between each cam roller and the outer clutch,

and means engageable with each bracket member to maintain each clutch roller in positive engagement with the' outer clutch and the respective cam rollers, said means comprising a spring secured to each braket member and engageeble with the inner clutch. 3.5 In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

A JASPER J. WALK. Witnesses:

JOHN H. HERRING, W. W. HEALEY. 

